It’s In My Blood: An Interview with Aimee Louise Ó hIcíde, Founder of Nala Native

When you meet Aimee Louise Hickey, now choosing to reclaim her ancestral surname, Ó hIcíde, you’re not just meeting the founder of a skincare brand. You’re meeting someone who carries the legacy of healers, scientists, and caretakers of the land across cultures and continents. In this conversation, we delve into her rich Irish medical heritage, her Australian roots, and the creation of Nala Native, a brand that’s as much about ancestral memory as it is about skincare.

Q: Aimee, before we talk about Nala Native, can you share a little about your lineage and what it means to you?

Aimee:
Absolutely. I come from the Ó hIcíde clan, which was anglicised to “Hickey” over time. Our family were the hereditary physicians to the Kings of Thomond in Ireland. For generations, we were the custodians of medical knowledge, real, clinical knowledge. Not just herbal lore, but full anatomy, diagnosis, and even early brain surgery techniques. We’re talking centuries before modern medicine caught up.

It wasn’t until recently that I began to truly reclaim this identity, especially as I started building Nala Native. I’m part of an unbroken male line of that clan, and I carry that inheritance with me, not in a lab coat, but through the intention and purpose of healing.

Q: That’s extraordinary. And now you live in Australia. How did that connection to land evolve for you here?

Aimee:
I’m a 7th-generation Australian, born into a country where the First Nations people have always been the original custodians of the land. Their relationship with Country, with natural medicine, with rhythm and respect, immediately resonated with me. It reminded me of my Celtic ancestors and how they also worked in harmony with nature.

I never wanted to appropriate that, but I deeply honour and acknowledge the parallels, and how both cultures used the land as a living pharmacy, and respected plants as sacred tools. I see Nala Native as something that carries those values forward, a form of cultural synthesis through deep respect.

Q: When did you realise you wanted to turn that deep lineage and cultural connection into a skincare brand?

Aimee:
It started with my skin struggles, redness, sensitivity, ingrown hairs, and congestion. I had a hard time finding products that calmed my skin without overcomplicating it. But more than that, I wanted to create skincare that was intentional and rooted in ancestral wisdom, not trends.

The idea wasn’t just “What’s good for your skin?” It was:
What did our ancestors use before we turned to chemicals?
What does the Earth offer us when we listen?
And how can I honour both the Irish and Aboriginal traditions I carry within me?

That’s how Nala Native was born.

Q: Nala Native is a beautiful name. What does it mean to you?

Aimee:
“Nala” has multiple meanings across different Aboriginal languages, often connected with earth, woman, or camp/home. To me, it reflects belonging. And “Native” is a nod to native botanicals, native heritage, and the way we’ve always healed, from what’s native to our land.

It’s also a declaration: I belong to the land, and the land belongs to me, both as an Irish descendant and as someone born on Australian soil.

Q: Your brand emphasises “slow skincare.” What does that mean to you?

Aimee:
It means rejecting the idea that beauty should be rushed, masked, or forced. I don’t believe in fast fixes. Our products are handmade in small batches, using ingredients that are gentle, effective, and intentional. Everything is plant-based, palm-free, cruelty-free, and sustainable, even our packaging breaks down into compost for the garden.

But it’s not just about the formulas. Slow skincare is about slowing down enough to listen to your skin, to connect to the process, and to honour the body you’re in.

Q: Do you feel like you’re continuing your ancestors’ legacy in a modern way?

Aimee:
Yes, and I carry that with deep pride. I may not be performing brain surgery, but I’m still working with skin, with healing, with the body, and with plants. The Ó hIcíde physicians didn’t just treat symptoms, they understood the body, the environment, and the energetic connection between them. That’s the ethos I bring into every product.

And that’s also why I chose to reclaim the Ó hIcíde name. It’s not just a surname. It’s a badge of honour, a reminder of the wisdom I come from.

Q: What do you hope people feel when they use Nala Native?

Aimee:
I hope they feel seen, soothed, and reconnected. I want people to realise that skincare can be more than just a routine; it can be a ritual. A quiet way to return to the self. To me, every product is a little act of ancestral remembrance and environmental respect.

It’s my way of whispering,
"You’re already whole. Let’s return you to that."

Q: Lastly, what’s next for you and Nala Native?

Aimee:
Expansion, but mindfully. I want to keep growing, but never in a way that dilutes the heart of the brand. That means continuing to educate, to create deeper connections, and to bring ancestral knowledge into modern skin wellness.

We’ll be adding new products, celebrating more native botanicals, and maybe even publishing more about the historical roots behind what we do. But always, always, keeping it rooted in healing.